Shen Kai survived.

That mattered.

If he had died, the gathering would have become a scandal, Qin Yuze would have carried guilt, and Blood Sun’s pressure would have deepened. Instead, he woke in an academy medical chamber with no memory of accepting the delayed shadow talisman.

Yu Qingmei questioned him under supervision.

He was terrified.

"I only received a spear grip from a sponsor assistant," he said. "They said it improves hand stability."

Qin Mo inspected the grip.

The talisman had been woven into the leather.

It did not corrupt permanently. It amplified aggression under specific emotional triggers. It was designed to activate when Shen Kai felt humiliated or desperate to win.

A disposable pressure tool.

Qin Yuze listened to the report silently.

Then asked, "Was he guilty?"

Yu Qingmei answered, "Careless, not malicious."

Qin Yuze looked at Qin Yuheng.

"Then what should happen?"

Qin Yuheng did not answer for him.

"What do you think?"

Qin Yuze frowned.

"He should be punished for accepting unknown equipment. But not treated like Blood Sun."

Qin Yuheng nodded.

"Good."

Yu Qingmei gave Shen Kai a formal warning, temporary suspension from public matches, and mandatory safety education. His family had to pay a fine for failing equipment inspection. But he was not destroyed.

This became another practical lesson for Qin Yuze.

Not all people used in traps were enemies.

Some were careless.

Some desperate.

Some arrogant.

Some victims.

Judgment mattered.

After the gathering, Qin Yuze trained harder in restraint. His Crimson Spear Battle Heart stabilized faster than expected because he had resisted a real provocation.

The Talent Maturation Timing Crystal was used again two weeks later.

[Subject: Qin Yuze]

Body Readiness:

68%

Soul Readiness:

74%

Combat Foundation:

73%

Talent Rhythm Stability:

63%

Second Talent Integration Risk:

Moderate.

Recommendation:

Continue training. Reassess after first controlled Tower entry preparation.]

Progress.

Qin Yuze grinned.

"Improved."

Qin Zhengyuan nodded.

"Yes. Because you did not rush."

Qin Yuze finally seemed to understand.

Meanwhile, Qin Yuheng cleared Floors 107 and 108.

Floor 107: The Garden of Borrowed Youth.

An age and vitality floor where elders stole youth from children "for village leadership continuity." Qin Yuheng exposed the system and restored age flow. Reward: SSS Generational Vitality Boundary Crystal.

Floor 108: The Hall of Echoed Praise.

A reputation-pressure floor where praise became addiction and criticism became poison. Qin Yuheng had to guide a sect of young talents away from dependency on external validation. Reward: SSS Praise-Poison Cleansing Bell.

The second reward was unexpectedly useful for Qin Yuze after public attention from the gathering.

Qin Yuze hated admitting it.

But he used the bell.

Floor 109 file arrived.

[Floor 109: The Red Orchard of Chosen Children]

Type:

Child selection / talent exploitation / family pressure / false opportunity.

Estimated Duration:

4 Tower days.

Warning:

A chosen child may still be stolen.]

The room became cold when Yu Qingmei read the file.

Qin Mo whispered, "This is about the children again."

Qin Yuheng nodded.

The Tower’s theme had returned sharply.

Children.

Talent.

Selection.

False opportunity.

The Red Orchard of Chosen Children likely reflected Blood Sun’s recent strategies.

Qin Yuheng entered with full caution.

The floor opened in an orchard where children with glowing marks were raised like rare fruits. Families competed to have their children "chosen" by red-robed caretakers. The chosen children received resources, training, and praise—but their future talents were being grafted into a central tree.

Qin Yuheng’s mission:

[Main Mission]

Free the chosen children without destroying their future potential.

[Sub-Missions]

1. Identify false selection marks.

2. Rescue 20 children.

3. Prevent talent graft loss above 30%.

4. Expose caretaker contract.

5. Defeat Red Orchard Caretaker.]

The floor was painful.

Parents had willingly offered children, believing selection meant greatness.

Some children wanted to stay because they were praised.

Some feared losing their "chosen" status.

Qin Yuheng did not simply cut all marks.

That would damage talent roots.

He used Dormant Potential Preservation Crystal, Innocent Guarantor Liberation Seal, and Child Path Protection Bell.

The boss, Red Orchard Caretaker, Level 66, attacked with grafted talent branches.

It called Qin Yuheng a thief of futures.

He answered, "A future taken before choice is theft."

The battle ended with the central tree purified, not destroyed. Children retained their own potential, though some lost false enhancements.

SSS evaluation.

Reward:

[SSS Grade Child Talent Root Protection Core]

Qin Yuheng brought it back like a sacred object.

At the Qin Estate, it was installed immediately into younger generation protections.

Qin Xue’er’s pendant glowed gently when near it.

She asked, "Is this for me?"

"For you and others," Qin Yuheng said.

She nodded.

"Then it is good."

Yes.

It was.

Floor 110, the Eleventh Gate, approached.

Its file arrived with a red child-hand mark.

[Floor 110: Eleventh Gate — The Future Orchard]

Type:

Gate threshold / child protection / talent timing / family ambition / future theft.

Warning:

Those who love children may still steal their futures by deciding too much.]

Qin Yuheng read the warning twice.

This gate would not only condemn enemies.

It would question protectors.

Including him.